Maharashtra is home to more than half of the roughly 5,000 Jews who live in India.

There are 2,466 Jews in the western state, down from 15,851 in 1961, according to the Indian Jewish Federation.

The numbers started dwindling after the 1960s, as many people moved to Israel, and others inter-married.

In India, recognition as a minority “will help to sustain the community for another generation or two,” said Jonathan Solomon, chairman of the federation.

India grants minority status to people who follow Buddhism, Christianity and Sikhism.

Mr. Solomon said Jews in Maharashtra will now be able to apply for scholarships and other government programs for minorities. There are also programs to preserve the heritage of minority communities, under which the Jews would look to restore some monuments, said Mr. Solomon.

Some government procedures will also become easier to manage. For instance, marriage certification forms haven’t previously had “Jew” as an option on the list of religions. Many couples have historically chosen to marry under Jewish laws.

“Because our numbers are so insignificant, we felt ignored in the government departments,” said Mr. Solomon.

The federation has already approached the federal government to get minority status, said Mr. Solomon.